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Step Into Studio Lighting

Monolights are an ideal low-cost, high-power, easy-to-use studio lighting solution

This Article Features Photo Zoom

If you're ready to step up from handheld flashes to more powerful and accessory-ready, studio-style strobes, consider monolights. They offer an affordable, powerful and easy-to-use lighting solution. Unlike pack systems, monolights don't tether to a central power pack. Instead, they plug directly into an AC outlet and include all of the controls in a single unit. With a single monolight you can start shooting immediately.

All monolights share a few features. The power adjustments are contained on the unit itself, and on higher-end models the output is adjustable in smaller increments across a wider range. This makes it easier to dial in precise output for finely tuned exposures. Because each unit operates independently of others, no complex ratios are required to balance the output to each flash. And since monolights can be dialed down to very low power, location photographers tend to like them because they easily balance with ambient light.

Location photographers also like monolights because they're self-contained; there's less stuff to carry on location, and many monolights are designed for portability. That's not to say monolights can't be powerful. Units are commonly available at 1000ws and more. (When measuring the output of handheld strobes, a guide number is used. But with studio strobes, output is measured in watt seconds (ws). A 1000ws strobe is equivalent to 10 100-watt light bulbs turned on for one second. That's a lot of light.)

Monolights also have photocells. These light-triggered slaves allow a single monolight flash (fired by sync cord or remote transmitter) to trigger additional monolights in a scene. This also translates to fewer cords and the ability to place lights far apart from one another—a huge benefit for photographers who work in large spaces like factories or arenas.

Many monolights also have proportional model light settings. That means that the intensity of a model lamp can be tied directly to the intensity of the flash output. This makes it easy to see ratios in real time with the naked eye, something that's especially helpful when learning to work with studio strobes.

GEAR OPTIONS
The Solo monolights from Visatec are a low-cost, easy-to-use solution. The 400B model puts out a full 400ws, continuously variable over a three-stop range, and via controls that are designed to be as simple as possible. The proportional model light can be set to full power or to automatically adjust with the intensity of the strobe. The fan-cooled unit helps with rapid-fire shooting, and an auto shutoff protects the strobe from overheating. Estimated Street Price: $430. www.visatec.com

Calumet's pair of Travelite "R" monolight strobes are radio-enabled to make them compatible with PocketWizard and LiteLinks transmitters. When working tethered to a sync cord, the strobes use a low-voltage sync to protect digital cameras. Available in 375ws and 750ws sizes, they're a low-power option for photographers who want to match ambient light, yet they're high-powered enough for blackout studios. Coated flashtubes provide more consistent color temperature, too. Estimated Street Price: $575 (375ws); $675 (750ws); PocketWizard card included. www.calumetphoto.com

Photogenic offers a wide variety of monolight options, but its Solair series incorporates the company's most advanced technologies. Available in 500ws and 1000ws options, with or without built-in PocketWizard receivers, the Solair monolights use constant color technology to maintain consistent color from flash to flash. Microprocessors keep flash output constant to a 1⁄20-stop with adjustability across an 8-stop range in 1⁄10-stop increments. They also include an auto-bracketing feature to fire additional flashes for over- or underexposure without changing camera settings. Estimated Street Price: $1,000 (500ws); $1,175 (1000ws); with built-in PocketWizard receivers. www.photogenic.com

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